tapa ātiṣṭha bhadraṁ te
tapa ātiṣṭha bhadraṁ te
sarva-bhūta-sukhāvaham
tapasaiva yathā pūrvaṁ
sraṣṭā viśvam idaṁ bhavān
Become situated in austerity, which is auspicious for you, giving happiness to all living beings, just as previously you created the universe.
Such destructive activities of Śiva are not beneficial at the time of creation and maintenance of the universe. Thus he should engage in austerity which will produce opposite results, creation, as previously. Normally one would say, “Just as you destroyed the universe at the end of the previous kalpa, so afterwards you will also destroy it.” Some persons explain that in some kalpas, Śiva acts as Brahmā and also creates. Others say that the statement means that the Lord identifies himself as being one with Śiva as he says in the following verse:
sṛjāmi tapasaivedaṁ grasāmi tapasā punaḥ
bibharmi tapasā viśvaṁ vīryaṁ me duścaraṁ tapaḥ
By austerity I create, destroy and maintain the universe again and again. My power arises from intense austerity. SB 2.9.23
|| 3.12.19 ||
tapasaiva paraṁ jyotir
bhagavantam adhokṣajam
sarva-bhūta-guhāvāsam
añjasā vindate pumān
By penance only can one thoroughly know the Supreme Lord, the supreme independent person, who is within the heart of every living entity and who is beyond the senses.
Having learned austerity from you, the population will get deliverance from the material world, according to the principle of “Whatever the great man does, others follow.”
|| 3.12.20 ||
maitreya uvāca
evam ātmabhuvādiṣṭaḥ
parikramya girāṁ patim
bāḍham ity amum āmantrya
viveśa tapase vanam
Maitreya said: Rudra, having been ordered by Brahmā, circumambulated his father, the master of the Vedas. Saying “I will do this,” he entered the forest to perform austerities.
|| 3.12.21 ||
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